Process of binding roads and road-beds and composition therefor.



E. P. WALSH.

PROCESS OF BINDING ROADS AND ROAD'BEDS AND COMPOSITION THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20. 1914.

1, 17,979. Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

.Z nveno 7".

Jenn I, WALSH, or nos'ron, MASSACHUSETTS.

- r aoonss or BINDING ROADS AND Roan-Bans AND COMPOSITION THEREFOR.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that JOHN P. WALSH, a citizen of the Unite States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suifolk and.

State, of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Processes of Binding Roads been mainly efieotedthrough the employ-v ment of an; oil, to which there are many and important objections.

I By my invention I effect a thorough binding of the constituents of the road or roadbed. The road binder constituting a part of myinvehtion-is a solid'and is adapted to.be applied to the roadbed in a finely divided or comminuted form. By employing a solid for. this purpose, I am enabled to apply the binder more evenly than in the case of an oil, byiwhichfimoreover a true binding .cannot. be effected, and I am enabled with that preferred embodiment of my invention hereinafter ,setforth to apply the binder in suflicient thickness, so that a single layer will effect proper road binding and leave a hard lasting monolithic surface. A road bindernpplied in solid or comminu'ted form does not necessitate pumping or storage. It can be located in'bulk at suitable intervals along the side of a roadbed,

audit can be, applied in any kind of weather, Whether freezing or otherwise.

The road binder herein claimed is composed ofasolidzpreferably in comminuted form obtained-from waste sulfite liquor re sulting from the manufacture of woodpulp or cellulose, having intimately combined therewith a filler preferably acting as a binder and preferably insoluble and having certain other qualities'hereinafter set forth.

Specification of Letters Patent.

A sulfite liquor remains rleutral after neutralization only when in aliquid form. When reduced to a powder it again becomes acid. The comminuted or finely divided solid secured from the waste sulfite liquor resulting from the so-called sulfite process is obtained in any suitable manner, the compo- Patented-Aprl1L1916. Application filed lt'ovember 20, 1914. Serial No. 873,131.

sition thereof being substantially as follows: a

- Water 13.76 parts, soluble extract 86.60

.parts, tanning matters 31.84 parts, non-tanning matters 54.76 parts, (organic matter 36.08 parts, mineral matter 18.68parts.)

While the said comminuted material might alone be used as a road binder, it would be open to certain objections, among which may be enumerated the relatively high cost thereof, the necessity for making'several applications to the road bed, the fact that such material is acid and the fact that it alone is very highly hygroscopic In order to I overcome these objections and also for reasons more fully set forth hereinafter, Icombine with .said comminuted solid obtained from the sulfite process a suitable filler acting also as a binder. I preferably employ I for this purpose a filler which is insoluble and which will render neutralthesaid comminuted solid obtained from the sulfite pro- .cess, as I have ascertained that by neutralizing such solid, its binding qualities are waste obtained from. the manufacture of soda ash or alkali from lime rock in the proportions of two parts of such waste to from the sulfite process. Obviously, however, these proportions may be varied. For

one part ofthe comminuted solid obtained certain purposes, I employ equal parts of these substances and for certain purposes I have successfully employed such sub v stances inthe proportion of eight parts of the said waste from the manufacture of soda ash to one part-0f vtheqcomminuted matter obtained from the sulfite process. I am not, however, limited to any particular proportions of parts. Within the scope and purpose of my invention other substances may be employed, such, for example, as calcium chlorid, brine or salt, or even earth or sand,

or certain other inert matters. Preferably, however, and to obtain the best results, I

employ, as stated, the Waste obtained from the manufacture of soda ash, the composltion whereof is substantially as follows:

Q0, (loss by ignition) 43. 87%

This composition may also contain a small amount of calcium chlorid.

The advantages of the road binder of my invention are many. The binder herein disclosedis adapted and primarily intended for use upon roads and roadbeds as a road binder and for the laying of dustthereon. The composition herein disclosed can successfully be employed upon previously oiled roads, which is not the case so far as I am aware with any substance heretofore proposed for use as a road binder or road treating agent. The composition. can be laid evenly and a single application is sufficient to effect the proper binding of the road.

Preferably I lay the composition in a layer of substantially one half inch thickness, and in the course of two or three hours, the same becomes thoroughly incorporated with the road bed, particularly if it'be applied thereto in the presence of water, or water be applied to the composition after it has been deposited upon the road.

Oil when used in the treatment of roads sheds water, this phenomenon being observant during or after a rainfall. The comminuted matter obtained from the waste liquor resulting in the sulfite process and constituting a portion of the composition employed by me, is very highly hygroscopic, and therefore it first holds the water deposited thereon either mechanically or by rainfall and then lets such water through into the roadbed, the composition being largely carried by the water serving to bind the constituents of the roadbed into a solid mass. Inasmuch as the composition, or one of the ingredients thereof is very hygroscopic, it results that water or moisture recevied thereby after the first application, as for example moisture deposited thereon at night in the form of dew, serves to bind into the roadbed process, it might be necessary to make a asmuch as the filler employed by me is insoluble, it serves to bind the road and to hold the constituents thereof in place, whereas with the use of oil in the treatment of roads, certain of the ingredients thereof flow or are carried with the oil to the sides of the road. The repetition of this process ultimately results in great damage to the roadbed. Oil heretofore employed in the treatment of'roads and roadbeds has no true binding effect upon the constituents thereof.

lVithin the scope of my invention, I may employ either an acid or a neutral composition. Vithin the scope and purpose of my invention, I may mix the so-called filler with the comminuted solid obtained from the waste sulfite liquor, by depositing said substances separately upon the road-bed, either one thereof, but preferably the comminuted solid obtained from the waste sulfite liquor, being first deposited and the filler being afterward deposited thereon. The filler preferably employed by me, namely, the waste product of soda ash, contains frequently as much as sixty or seventy-five per cent. of moisture, which, owing to the finely powdered nature of the product, is difficult to drive out. It is important that it be thoroughly dry before it be mixed with. the sulfite powder, if a mixing be resorted to prior to the application of both ingredients to the roadbed. Therefore, I may in certain cases sprinkle or deposit the powderor comminuted material obtained from the sulfite processupon the road or roadbed, sprinkle water upon said powder and then add the filler to such powder while the latter is in a pasty condition. Such filler might be deposited if desired from another receptacle carried upon the vehicle employed to spread or sprinkle the sulfite powder. If desired, the water may be added after both ingredients have been deposited, singly or in mixed condition.

Having thus described certain embodiments of my invention and the best method known to me forcarrying the process. into effect, I. desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitat )n, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims: v

1. As a composition of matter, a road binder comprising a comminuted solid obtained from waste sulfite liquor and a'filler.

2. As a composition of matter, a road binder comprising a comminuted solid obtained from waste sulfite liquor and an insoluble filler.

3. As a composition of matter, a road binder comprising a comminuted solid ob-. tained from waste sulfite liquor, and a filler composed of the waste product obtained -5 from the manufacture of soda ash.

4. As, a composition of matter, a highly hygroscopic road binder, consisting of a comminuted solid obtained from waste sulfite liquor having a carbonaceous filler inti- 10 mately combined therewith.

5. The process of treating road beds com- Y prising, combining-a comminuted solid ob-' I tained from waste, sulfite liquor with a filler, applying the same to aroad bed and subjecttwo subscribing witnesses.

ing the same while thereon to the action of 15 water. r a

6. As a composition of matter, a road binder comprising a comminuted solidqobtained from waste sulfite liquor and a filler embodying calcium chloridr In testimony whereof, I have signed? my name to this specification, 'm the presence of JOHN- I in WALSH. Witnesses: I

IRVING U. TOWNSEND, EVERETT S. EMERY. 

